Christmas-tree standard



oct. 1 9 1926.

J. P. LORENZ CHRISTMAS TREE STANDARD Filed SePt- 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheetl Oct., 19 1926.

J P LORENZ CHRISTMAS TREE STANDARD Flled Sept 4 1923 2 sheets-sheet 2Patented-Get. 19, 1935.

unirte stares item4 PTENT JOHN P. LORENZ, OF ST. PAUL, MNNESOTA,ASSlGrNO-v OF ONE-'IHED T0 EOI-1N H'Ulli AND ONE-THIRD "DO EDWARD M.YENCH, BOTH OF SI. FAUL, `1VIINNESOTA.

CHRISTMAS-TREE STANDARD.

Application LedSepternber 4, 1923. Serial No. 666,760.

rlhis invention relates to an improvement in `Christmas tree standards.`

llie object of this invention is to provide simplified and highlyeflicient meansfor se curely holding the trunk of a tree in'uprightposition.

A further object is to provide a standard with ,gripping means adaptedto lit tree trunks of widely different sizes.

Another object is to so form the supporting legs and Agripping elementsvthatmthe trunk of a treemay vbe securely'held .independently oftheweighton the leg/s. l The present device is composed "entirely of aplurality of similar units secured .togetheriby bolts, each unit beingformed to constitute a gripping element and a leg. The constructionofthe standard from similar units results in great economy of manufacture.Heretofore, as far as applicant is aware, standards, other than thosecomposed of wooden slats, have been provided with either a central.socket and legs which also act. gripping levers or the device has beenlconstructed entirely `of rods by which the weight of the tree istransmitted from the supporting legs to the gripping elements. Most ofthese prior devices are so constructed that the larger the tree.supported thereby, the smaller is .the spread of the legs, whereas, itis obvious that if there is any difference in this respect, the largertrees should have the broader base upon which to stand. l.Vith thepreferred form of the present invention, the spread of the base remainspractically constant for all sizes of trees.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention,Figure 1 is a plan View of the preferred form. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same, Fig. 3 is a plan view of an alternate form, Fig.4 is a side elevation of the alternate form. Fig. 5 is a detailelevation of one of the units of the alternate form and, Fig. 6 showssaid unit as it appears after being stamped from sheet metal and beforebeing folded to final shape.

ln the drawings, I have used the numeral 10 to indicate the trunk of atree. Three pivotally joined gripping elements 11 formed with downwardlyconverging lower ends 12 are adapted to support and be actuated by thebase of the trunk 10. Upper extremities 13 on the elements 11 areadaptedv to bear upon the periphery of the trunk 10 above its'base andare tapped to receive adjusting screwsk 14 for the purpose hereinafterdescribed. The elements 11 are shaped laterally extending ears 15arranged so to be joined by bolts 16 to form a central socket for thetrunk 10. Each of the ears 15, are pierced by a plurality rof holes 17which register with like holes in the ear to be articulated therewith.Extending downe5 ward and outward from the lower end 'of each oftheelementsll is a leg 18. it is to he noted that the' leg 18 extendslaterally from the element 11 at right angles to the plane .in whichsaid element pivots upon ,the bolt ie.

In use the trunk 10 is `inserted vin the socket formed by the" elements11 and is forced downward against the converging lower ends 12 thereof.'This presses the upper extremi- T5 ties 13 against the periphery of thetrunk. As will now be readily understood, the weight of the tree upontheflower endsv of the elements 11 will always maintain the grippingpressure between the upper ends S' of said elements. lf, as isfrequently the` case, the trunk 10 is irregular on its peripheryadjacent to the en dsA 1 3, one or more of the adjusting screws 1.4 vmaybe turned inward to compensatefor theirregularity and hold the trunkinthe desired upright position.

It will be evident that withincomparative ly wide limits, trees ofdifferent sizes may be inserted between the gripping elements 11 withoutchanging the position of the bolt 16. Thus, the smaller trees willextend farther down than the larger ones upon the converging ends 12 ofthe elements 11. `The size of the tree that can be supported is onlylimited by the size of the polygon formed by the ears 15 andintermediate portions of the elements 11. ToI support a larger tree, thesize of this polygon is increased by inserting the bolts 16 inperforations nearer the ends of the ears 15. It is to be noted in thispreferred form of my device, that the spread of the legs, and resultingsize of the base, is not materially changed by pivoting the elements 11on the bolts 16.

ln the alternate form of my device shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, theunits 19 are made of sheet metal, the shape of the stamped sheet beforefolding being shown in Fig. 6. The units after being stamped or cut tothe shape shown are merely folded on the dotted lines indicated in Fig.6, the corners Q0 of each unit being riveted together to form the baseor converging end ot' the gripping element. The ears 22, as in thepreferred iorm are provided witha plurality of perlorations for thebolts Q3 so as to permit changing of the size of the socket to litdifferent trees. An upper end 2l of each of the legs, when assembled,bears upon the periphery of the tree trunk l0 above its base, while ears22 are connected in pairs by bolts 23. Obliquely downward extendingportions constitute the legs upon which the tree is supported.

The operation of the alternate form is similar to that described abovefor the pre.- erred forni, except that to some slight eXA tent the sizeot' the supporting base is ai tected by the size or the tree insertedbetween the gripping elements. The trunk l0 is inserted between theelements 19 and forced downward against the converging ends 2O oft thesocket, when said elements will be pivoted upon the bolts 23 to firmlygrip the trunk with the upper ends 2l.

rThe alternate torni of my device, while it does not combine all of theadvantageous features of my preterred form, does have the advantage ofgreater eheapness. Obviously the number of legs or units can beincreased at will without departing `from the spirit ol my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. ln a standard of the class described, a series of gripping elementspivotally joined one to another intermediate their ends to torni asocket for a trunk, gradually converging lower ends on said elementsadapted to grip a trunk in said socket, adjusting screws severallythreaded in the upper ends of said elements to impinge against a trunkin said socket whereby the lower ends of said elements may be pressedinward to firmly grip said trunk, and means for supporting said elementsin substantially upright position.

2. A standard composed wholly ot not more than tour similar body units,each unit having a substantially upright, gripping element, adapted tobe pressed inward at its lower end against the periphery oiI a trunknear the base thereof, an integral leg on the lower end of each ot saidunits, and adjustable means on the upper end olf each of said units forengaging' the trunk, the several units being joined by bolts locatedabove the lower ends of the gripping elements to forni a socket, adaptedto receive and hold trunks of diiiierent sizes.

L In a standard, a series oi' gripping elements pivotally joined one toanother to torni a socket for a trunk, each of said elementsgbeingarranged to pivot in a substantially `vertical plane, and a leg rigidlyconnected with oai-.h of said elements and projectingl at an angle withthe pivotal plane.

il. In a standard, series of gripping elements pivotally joined to forma socket adapted to receive a trunk, each of said elements arranged togrip the trunk with its lower end, adjustable means on the upper end oteach of said gripping elements for engaging a trunk, and diverging legsrigid` ly connected to said elements, said legs eX- tendingsubstantially perpendicularly to the pivotal plane of said elementswhereby the spread of said legs is substantially unalfected by pivotalmovement of said elements.

In testimony whereof, have hereunto signed my name to this speciication.

JOHN P. LORENZ.

